No.22 • June 2013
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
45 buses worth of work and 80 more staff...
ALL SYSTEMS GO For TAKEOVER OF 11 TfL routes E
LEVEN TfL routes are to transfer to Go-Ahead London from First Capital East’s Dagenham depot on June 22, presenting an exciting opportunity for the company. Some 80 staff will TUPE to GoAhead London to operate the routes, which represent 45 buses worth of work. The routes will be run from Blue Triangle and include: n Route 193: Queen’s Hospital Romford via Hornchurch to Emerson Park n Route 368: Barking to Chadwell Heath n Route 498, Romford Station to Brentwood n Eight school routes. Acting general manager Peter Russell said: “The three main bus routes that are transferring are quite large, with the 368 being the biggest. This particular route used to be based at Blue Triangle so it will be good to welcome it back to the garage. “We will be working to a tight deadline as we have just three weeks to do something that normally takes six months, but we are all confident that we will be able to do
We will be working to tight deadlines but we are confident that we will be able to do it
‘NEW BUS’ BOOST FOR ROUTE 11: p3
GILL’S SHORTLIST CELEBRATION: p4
Acting general manager Peter Russell it. I have selected SGA Carl Trainor to be the implementation manager for this task and he will work closely with Brad Campbell the acting operating manager. We have devised an itinerary best suited to induct the new staff and let them know the standards we expect.” Go-Ahead London has already started the TUPE consultation with staff at Dagenham and work will get underway to ensure a smooth transfer between the two garages. Staff at Blue Triangle will be inducting those transferring into the depot as well as making arrangements for the new buses. Once the schedules for the routes have been prepared then staff rotas can be put in place for Go-Ahead London’s new colleagues. To accommodate the additional buses, Blue Triangle’s Route 20
(Debden to Walthamstow) will relocate to Northumberland Park. “It’s sad to be moving the route 20 to Northumberland Park, and with it some very good drivers. However I would like to welcome all of our colleagues joining Blue Triangle from Dagenham. There is a real community feel at Blue Triangle and I’m sure the drivers will enjoy their new garage – also our new drivers will be coming from some uncertainty to a place and company that is more secure,” said Peter. “As a garage, we are ready for this challenge and we welcome the new work. “We are excited by this opportunity and it is a real test of the team here at Blue Triangle to make the transition as seamless as possible.”
STUART”S SKY DIVE FOR GOOD CAUSE: p8
INSIDE: Cheers ring out for new iBus room p4-5